Q2. What are the different types of networks?

Ans. Considering the size or span of a network, we can classify them as follows:

 PAN (Personal Area Network) – PAN is made up of devices used by a single person. It has
a range of a few meters.
 WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network) – It is a PAN network that uses wireless
technologies as a medium.
 LAN (Local Area Network) – LAN is a network whose range is limited to a relatively small
area, such as a room, a building, an aeroplane, etc.
 WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) – WLAN is a LAN network that uses wireless
means of communication. It is a widely used configuration due to its scalability and
because it does not require the installation of cables.
 CAN (Campus Area Network) – A network of high-speed devices that connects LANs in a
limited geographical area, such as a university campus, a military base, etc.
 MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) – MAN is a high-speed (broadband) network
providing coverage in a larger geographic area than a campus, but still limited.
 WAN (Wide Area Network) – WAN extends over a large geographical area using unusual
means of communication, such as satellites, interoceanic cables, fibre optics, etc. Use
public media.
 VLAN – It is a type of logical or virtual LAN, mounted on a physical network, in order to
increase security and performance. In special cases, thanks to the 802.11Q protocol (also
called QinQ), it is possible to mount virtual networks on WAN networks. It is important
not to confuse this implementation with VPN technology.

For more information, you should explore: Types Of Computer Networks

You can also explore – What is the Difference Between LAN and WAN?

Read more – What is Networking?

Q3. What is Network Cabling?

Ans. Network cables can connect two computers or computer systems directly. A cable is a cord that
is made up of different conductors, which are insulated from each other. This cord is usually
protected by a wrap for better strength and flexibility.

To choose a network cable, several aspects must be taken into account such as –
  The distance that must be covered with that cable
 The maximum data transmission speed
 The coating of the cable
 The type of network to be created
 The type of braiding, shielding, and/or sheath

Q4. What are the different types of network cables used in networking?

Ans. The different types of cables used in networks are –

 Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cable

 Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) Cable
 Cable Installation Guides
 Coaxial Cable
 Fibre Optic Cable
 Wireless LANs

Q5. What is a ‘subnet’?

Ans. A ‘subnet’ is a generic term for a section of an extensive network, usually separated by a bridge
or a router. It also works for the network’s broadcast domains, manages traffic flow, and helps
increasing network performance. Uses of the subnet in networking include:

 Relieving network congestion

 Reallocating IP addresses
 Improving network security

Q6. What is DNS?

Ans. The Domain Name System (DNS) is a central part of the internet, providing a way to match
names (a website you’re seeking) to numbers (the address for the website). Anything connected to
the internet – laptops, tablets, mobile phones, and websites – has an Internet Protocol (IP) address
made up of numbers.

You can also explore: What Is An IP Address?

Explore – What is network security?

Q7. Differentiate between ‘forward lookup’ and ‘reverse lookup’ in

DNS?
Ans. Following are the major differences between a forward lookup and reverse lookup in DNS:

Forward DNS lookup Reverse DNS lookup

Converts a human input or a domain

Converts an IP address into a domain name
name to an IP address

Has a mapping between hostnames Has a mapping that relates IP addresses to

and IP addresses hostnames

Used for a website or other server

Used for network troubleshooting
access

Utilizes different servers with Resolves reverse lookup queries where a client
different IP addresses requests a hostname by providing an IP address

Uses A Records (basic) to identify

Uses DNS pointer record to identify a hostname
any IP address for a particular
for a given IP address
hostname

Q8. What is Network Topology?

Ans. This is among the important networking interview questions. Network topology is the physical
or logical arrangement in which the devices or nodes of a network (e.g. computers, printers, servers,
hubs, switches, routers, etc.) are interconnected with each other over a communication medium. It
consists of two parts – the physical topology, which is the actual arrangement of the cables (the
media), and the logical topology, which defines how the hosts access the media.

You must explore: What are the Different Types of Network Topology?

Types of network topologies –

Bus – In the bus network topology, each workstation is connected to a main cable called a bus.
Therefore, in effect, each workstation is directly connected to every other workstation on the
network.

Bus network topology

Star – In the star network topology, there is a central computer or server to which all workstations
are directly connected. Each workstation is indirectly connected to the other through the central
computer.

Star network topology

Ring – In the ring network topology, the workstations are connected in a closed-loop configuration.
Adjacent workstation pairs are directly connected. Other pairs of workstations are indirectly
connected, passing data through one or more intermediate nodes.
Mesh – Mesh network topology has two forms – full and partial mesh. In the full mesh topology,
each workstation is directly connected. In the partial mesh topology, some workstations are
connected to all the others, and some are connected only to the other nodes with which they
exchange more data.

Fully Connected Mesh (Left) and Partial Mesh Network Topology (Right)

Tree – The tree network topology uses two or more star networks connected to each other. The
central computers in star networks are connected to the main bus. Thus, a tree network is a bus
network of star networks.
Tree Network Topology

Q9. What are ‘client’ and ‘server’ in a network?

Ans. Clients and servers are separate logical entities that work together over a network to accomplish
a task.

A client application is the element of communication that requests or requests a network service, for
example, accessing a web page, or downloading a file, or sending an email.

A server application is the element of communication that responds to customer requests, providing
the required service, that is, sending the web page or the requested file or email.

The client-server model is used by computer applications such as email, the worldwide web, and
network printing.

Q10. What is a ‘frame relay’ and in which layer does it operate?

Ans. Frame Relay is a data link layer digital packet-switched network protocol technology designed
to connect local area networks (LANs) and transfer data over wide area networks (WANs). Frame
Relay shares some of the same underlying technology as X.25.

It is based on the older X.25 packet-switching technology that was designed to transmit analogue
data as voice conversations. Unlike X.25, which was designed for analogue signals, Frame Relay is a
fast packet technology, which means that the protocol does not attempt to correct errors. It is often
used to connect LANs with main backbones, as well as in public wide area networks and in private
network environments with leased T-1 lines. It requires a dedicated connection during the
transmission period and is not ideal for voice or video, which require a constant stream of
transmissions.

You can also read: Top Network Security Interview Questions

Q11. What are the different features of Frame Relay?

Ans. The different features of Frame Relay are:

 Frame Relay is a connectionless service, which means that every data packet that passes over
the network contains address information
 Frame Relay is a service that is provided with a variety of speeds from 56 Kbs to 25 Mbs.
Although the speeds most used for the service are currently 56 Kbs and 1,544 Mbs
 The frames are of variable length and go up to 4,096 bytes
 Frame Relay is considered a broadband ISDN service
 It operates at high speed (1,544 Mbps to 44,376 Mbps).
 It operates only on the physical and data link layers. Therefore, it can be easily used on the
Internet.
 It has a large frame size of 9000 bytes. Therefore, it can accommodate all local area network
frame sizes.
 Frame Relay can only detect errors (at the data link layer). But there is no flow control or
error control. It operates in the data link layer.

Q12. How does a Frame Relay Work?

Ans. Frame Relay supports the multiplexing of traffic from multiple connections over a shared
physical link. It uses hardware components that include router frames, bridges, and switches to pack
data into individual frame relay messages. Each connection uses a 10-bit Data Link Connection
Identifier (DLCI) for unique channel addressing. There are two types of connections:

 Permanent Virtual Circuits (PVCs) for persistent connections are intended to be maintained
for long periods even if data is not actively transferred.
 Switched Virtual Circuits (SVCs) for temporary connections that last only one session.

Frame Relay then places the data in a variable-size unit called a frame and leaves any necessary error
correction (data retransmission) until the endpoints, speeding up the overall transmission of data.
Frame Relay

Q13. What is a MAC address?

Ans. A MAC (Media Access Control) address is the unique 48-bit hardware address of a LAN card,
usually stored in the ROM of the network adapter card.

The MAC address is a unique identifier that manufacturers assign to a network card or device. It is
also known as a physical address represented by hexadecimal digits. Each MAC address is unique
worldwide and, in theory, they are fixed for each device.

Each MAC address includes six pairs of numbers. The first three pairs help to identify the
manufacturer and the next three to the specific model. It is important to bear in mind that a computer
may have a variety of hardware to connect to networks; thus, it is common to have a MAC address
for Ethernet, one for Wi-Fi, and another for Bluetooth.

Q14. What is ‘beaconing’?

Ans. Beaconing is the process that allows a network to self-repair network problems. This is among
the important networking interview questions and you must prepare for the related terminologies as
well.

Q15. Differentiate between ‘attenuation’, ‘distortion’, and ‘noise’.

Ans. When a signal travels through a medium, it loses some of its energy due to the resistance of the
medium. This loss of energy is called attenuation.

When a signal travels through a medium from one point to another, it may change the form or shape
of the signal. This is known as distortion.

Noise is unwanted electrical or electromagnetic energy that degrades the quality of signals and data.

Q16. What is an IP address?

Ans. An Internet Protocol address (IP address) is a numerical unique address of a device in a
network. IP is a datagram-oriented connectionless protocol, therefore each packet must contain a
header with the source IP address, the destination IP address, and other data in order to be delivered
successfully.

There are two types of IPs –

Private IP Address – A private IP address is a set of numbers that are assigned to each
computer or system, connected to a private network. An example of a private IP address is
your mobile phone or your home router which have a default local address.

Public IP Address – Public IP addresses are global addresses, visible to anyone browsing
the Internet. A user just needs an internet connection to connect to such devices.

Q17. How to find the IP address of a website?

Ans. Finding the IP address of a website or a domain is not a tricky task and involves the below steps
–

 Press the “Start” button on your computer

 Type in the program and file browser “cdm”
 Hit “Enter”
 The MS-DOS console will open, where you must type “nslookup google.com”. Instead of
“google.com”, you must write the domain name of the page you want to consult
 Next, you will be able to see the IP address

Q18. What is ‘bandwidth’?

Ans. The limited range of frequencies of signals that a line can carry is called the bandwidth.
Bandwidth is often confused with Internet speed when it is actually the volume of information that
can be sent over a connection in a measured amount of time, calculated in megabits per second
(Mbps).

Logically the bandwidth of our network will be decisive for its quality and speed. The more
bandwidth we have, the better, since the faster we can transfer data.

Q19. What are ‘firewalls’?

Ans. A firewall is a network security system, responsible to manage network traffic. It uses a set of
security rules to prevent remote access and content filtering. Firewalls are used to protect the systems
or networks from viruses, worms, malware, etc. Firewalls are usually of two types –

Physical – A physical firewall or hardware firewall is a physical device, sits between the external
network and the server. They analyze incoming traffic and filter out any threats to the device. Widely
used in institutions and large companies.

Logical – A logical or software firewall can exist anywhere on the subnet and protects hosts
anywhere on the subnet without rewiring. They only protect the computer on which they are
installed, and in many cases, they are integrated into the operating system itself.

You can also explore: What are the Different Types of Firewalls?

Q20. How does a firewall work?

Ans. This is among the popularly asked networking interview questions. The firewall ‘listens’ for
what information packets are trying to leave or enter the computer system. Blocking can be done
based on various criteria, such as the IP to which they are destined, the type of port used to send
them, or the application of origin.

One of the most complex aspects of using firewalls lies in their configuration, in deciding what types
of connections are blocked and which ones are not.
Q21. What are the major types of networks?

Ans. There are two major type of networks: Server-based network and Peer-to-peer network.

Q22. What are the important topologies for networks?

Ans. There are three essential topologies: Star, Bus, and Ring.

Q23. Differentiate between static IP addressing and dynamic IP addressing.

Ans. In a static IP address, a computer (or another device) is always configured to use the same IP
address, whereas, in a dynamic IP address, the IP address can change periodically and is managed by
a centralized network service.

Q24. What are the different ways to exchange data?

Ans. Following are the different ways to exchange data:

 Simplex
  Half-duplex
 Full-duplex

Q25. What are routers?

Ans. Routers connect two or more network segments. These intelligent network devices store
information in their routing tables such as paths, hops, and bottlenecks. They determine the most
accurate data transfer paths and operate in Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Network Layer.

The roles of a router include:

 Inter-network communication
 Best path selection
 Packet forwarding
 Packet filtering

For more information, you can also explore: What is Router in Computer Networks?

You can also explore: Network Devices in Computer Networks and Its Types

Q26. What are the criteria for the best path selection of a router?

Ans. The following parameters define the path selection:

 Longest prefix match

 Minimum AD (administrative distance)
 Lowest metric value

Q27. Explain what is a source route?

Ans. The source route is defined as a sequence of IP addresses that are used to identify the route of a
datagram. You can also involve the source route in the IP datagram header.

Q28. What is the difference between ‘standard’ and ‘extended’ ACL (access control
list)?

Ans. Standard ACLs are source-based, whereas extended ACLs are source- and destination-based.

Q29. What is data encapsulation?

Ans. Data encapsulation is the process of breaking down information into smaller, manageable
chunks before their transmission across the network.

Q30. What is RAS?

Ans. RAS (Remote Access Services) refers to any combination of hardware and software to enable
remote access to tools or information that typically reside on a network of IT devices.

Q31. Mention the different network protocols that are supported by Windows
RRAS services?

Ans. Following are the three main network protocols supported by Windows RRAS services:

 NetBEUI
 TCP/IP
 IPX

Q32. What are the perquisites to configure a server?

Ans. Perquisites to configure a server are:

 LAN card should be connected

 Root (partition on which window is installed) should be in NTFS format.
 A server should be configured with a static IP address.

Q33. How can you secure a computer network?

Ans. You can achieve a secure computer network in the following ways:

 Install a reliable and updated antivirus program across the network

 Ensure firewalls are setup and configured properly
 Monitor firewall performance
 Ensure User authentication
 Update passwords regularly, every quarter
 Create a virtual private network (VPN)

You can also explore: What is a Virtual Private Network (VPN)?

Q34. Mention the uses of the Hamming code?

Ans. Following are some of the common applications of using Hemming code:

 Modems
 Satellites
 PlasmaCAM
 Shielding wire
 Embedded Processor
 Computer Memory
 Open connectors

Q35. What are proxy servers and how do they protect computer networks?

Ans. Proxy servers prevent external users from identifying the IP addresses of an internal network.
They make a network virtually invisible to external users, who cannot identify the physical location
of a network without knowledge of the correct IP address.

Q36. What are Nodes and Links?

Ans. Nodes – Devices or data points on a more extensive network are known as nodes. They are
individual parts of a larger data structure and contain data. They also link other nodes.

Links- A link is the physical and logical network component for interconnecting hosts or nodes in a
network. It is a physical communication medium such as a coaxial cable or optical fibre.

Q37. What is SLIP?

Ans. SLIP or Serial Line Interface Protocol was developed during the early UNIX days and it is used
for remote access.

SLIP does not provide error detection as it relies on higher-layer protocols for it. Therefore, SLIP
alone is not successful on an error-prone dial-up connection. However, it is still useful to test the
operating system’s response capabilities under load (looking at ping flood statistics).

Interviewers often ask such networking interview questions and you must prepare for such
abbreviations.

Q38. What is TCP/IP?

Ans. TCP/IP is the short form of the Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol. It is a set of
protocol layers designed to facilitate data exchange on heterogeneous networks.
Learn all about Cisco Certifications, their Scope, and Benefits, read our blog – what are Cisco
Certifications?

Q39. How many layers does TCP/IP Model have?

Ans. TCP/IP Model has four layers:

Layer Description

Network Network Interface is also called a network access layer. It defines

Interface how data should be sent physically using the network.

It enables hosts to insert packets into the network and have them
Internet delivered to the destination, on the same network, or another
remote network.

This layer permits devices on the source and destination hosts to

Transport carry on a conversation. It ensures reliability, flow control, and
correction of data that is being sent over the network.

It is the topmost layer of the TCP/IP model. It defines TCP/IP

Application application protocols and how host programs interface with
transport layer services to use the network.

Q40. Explain the different layers in the OSI model?

Ans. It is one of the most commonly asked networking interview questions. The OSI (Open Systems
Interconnection) Model consists of seven layers:

Layer Description

It is the lowest layer of the OSI Model. It transmits raw unstructured data
bits over a communication channel. The Physical layer is responsible for
Physical the actual physical connection between the devices. While receiving
data, the Physical layer gets the signal received, converts it into 0s and
1s, and sends them to the Data Link layer.

Data Link At this layer, the directly connected nodes perform node-to-node data
transfer where data is packaged into frames. This layer also corrects
 errors that occurred at the Physical layer. Data Link Layer is divided into
two sub-layers :

 Logical Link Control (LLC)

 Media Access Control (MAC)

The Network layer is responsible for transmitting data from one host to
the other located in different networks. It receives frames from the data
Network
link layer and delivers them to their intended destinations based on the
addresses contained inside the frame. It also takes care of packet routing.

The transport layer is responsible for managing the delivery and error-
Transport checking of data packets. It ensures the end-to-end delivery of the
complete message.

This layer creates communication channels, called sessions, between

devices. It opens sessions, ensures they remain open while data is being
Session
transferred, and closes them when communication ends. It is also
responsible for authentication and reconnections.

Presentatio This layer extracts data from the application layer and manipulates it as
n per the required format to transmit over the network.

At the Application layer, both the end-user and the application layer
interact directly with the software application. This layer acts as a
Application
window for the application services to access the network and for
displaying the received information to the user.

Q41. A gateway works in which layer of the OSI model?

Ans. Transport layer.

Q42. Explain why the standard OSI model is known as 802.xx?

Ans. The OSI model was introduced in February 1980. In 802.XX, ‘80’ is named for the year 1980,
and ‘2’ is named for the month of February.

Q43. What common software problems lead to network defects?

Ans. It can be any or a combination of:

 Application conflicts
 Client-server problems
 Configuration error
 Protocol mismatch
 Security issues
 User policy & rights issues

This question is among the basic networking interview questions and you must prepare for such
questions.

Q44. Why is encryption on a network necessary?

Ans. Encryption is the process of changing data from its original readable format to an unreadable
format, thus ensuring network security. It requires the user to use a secret key or password to decrypt
the data.

Encryption is not only useful for communications, but also in any case where you want to protect
sensitive information. Thus, it is possible to encrypt the information contained in disks, folders or
even individual files, to prevent unauthorized access. Then, in addition to the benefit of protecting
the privacy of users, data encryption prevents other types of attacks such as identity theft, or bank
fraud, in addition to providing a protection mechanism against the theft or loss of devices with
sensitive information.

Q45. What are the types of errors?

Ans. There are two categories of errors –

 Single-bit error – one-bit error per data unit

 Burst error – Two or more bits errors per data unit

Q46. What is a client-server model?

Ans. The client-server model or architecture is a communication framework for network processes.
This framework is distributed among service requestors, clients, and service providers and offers
them transparent access to applications, data, computing services or any other resource of the
workgroup and/or across the organization, on multiple platforms.
Client-Server Functions

 User interface management

 Management of shared peripherals
 Capture and validation of input data
 Generation of queries and reports on databases
 Control of concurrent access to shared databases
 Create communications links with other local or wide area networks

Q47. What is TELNET?

Ans. TELNET is a client-service protocol on the internet or local area network, allowing a user to log
on to a remote device and have access to it. This is among the most commonly asked networking
interview questions. Technically, it is a bidirectional interactive text-oriented communication facility,
which uses a virtual terminal connection.

Q48. What is RIP?

Ans. In networking, RIP is an abbreviation for Routing Information Protocol. It is a simple protocol
that exchanges information between the routers.

Q49. What is half-duplex?

Ans. It is the mode of communication between two devices. Here the data flows bi-directionally but
simultaneously. A perfect example of a half-duplex is a walkie-talkie.

Q50. What is a full-duplex?

Ans. It is a mode of communication between two devices and the data flow is bi-directional too, but
the flow is simultaneous. One of the examples of full-duplex is a telephone.

Q51. What is netstat?

Ans. Netstat is a command-line utility program that provides information about the current
Transmission Control Protocol /Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) settings of a connection.

Q52. What is a peer-peer process?

Ans. The processes on each machine that communicate at a given layer are called the peer-peer
process.
Q53. What is anonymous FTP?

Ans. With the help of an anonymous FTP, users can be granted access to files in public servers.
Users can log in as anonymous guests, thus the name.

Q54. What is NAT?

Ans. It stands for Network Address Translation and is a protocol that allows a network device,
usually a firewall, to assign a public address to a computer/s inside a private network.

Q55. Mention a few examples of private network addresses.

Ans. Few examples of private network addresses are:

10.0.0.0 with a subnet cover of 255.0.0.0172.16.0.0 with subnet cover of 255.240.0.0192.168.0.0

with subnet cover of 255.255.0.0.

Q56. Can you tell me the main elements of a protocol?

Ans. There are three main elements of a protocol –

Syntax: It refers to the structure or format of the data and their order of presentation.

Semantics: It specifies the meaning of each section of bits.

Timing: Timing refers to two characteristics, which include the timing of data sending and
the speed of data sending.

Such common networking interview questions are often asked by the interviewers.

Q57. What is NIC?

Ans. NIC is the abbreviation for Network Interface Card. It is a peripheral card with electronic
circuitry. It is attached to a PC and connects to a network. NIC has its own MAC address and this
identifies a PC on the network.

Q58. What is the difference between Communication and Transmission?

Ans. Transmission – A process of sending and receiving data between source and destination, in
only one way. It is regarded as the physical movement of data.
Communication – A process of sending and receiving data between source and destination, in both
ways.

Q59. Explain NAT in networking.

Ans. Network Address Translation (NAT) is a protocol used to convert the IP address of the
computer network into a local network to a single IP address. It takes all your local network devices
and provides a single IP address to share a single connection to the internet. NAT is used router,
computer, firewall in a local network.

Q60. Explain NOS.

Ans. Short form for Network Operating System. Specialized software that provides connectivity to a
computer such that it can communicate with other computers and devices on a network.

Q61. What is IDEA?

Ans. IDEA is the abbreviation for International Data Encryption Algorithm. It is the replacement for
the Data Encryption Standard (DES).

Q62. What is ASCII?

Ans. American Standard Code for Information Interchange.

Q63. What is Brouter?

Ans. Brouter is a device that functions as both a bridge and a router. It forwards data within the
networks and also routes data to individual systems in a network.

Q64. Mention the maximum length of the Thinnet cable?

Ans. The maximum length of the Thinnet cable is 185 meters.

Q65. Name the cable which uses the RJ11 connector?

Ans. Telephone cables use the RJ11 connector.

Q66. How would you differentiate between Firewall and Antivirus?

Ans. Both are security applications used in networking.

A firewall prevents unauthorized access in private networks as intranets. However, it does not protect
against viruses, spyware, or adware.

An antivirus is a software that protects a computer from any malicious software, virus, spyware, or
adware.

You may consider such networking interview questions to be basic, but such questions are the
favourite of interviewers as interviewees often leave behind such networking interview questions
while preparing.

Q67. How will you recover data from a Virus-infected system?

Ans. We will install an OS and updated antivirus in a system that is free of any viruses, and then
connect the hard drive of the infected system as a secondary drive. The hard drive will then be
scanned and cleaned. Data can now be copied into the system.

Q68. What is ipconfig?

Ans. ‘ipconfig’ is an acronym for Internet Protocol Configuration. We use ipconfig on Microsoft
Windows to view and configure the network interface. It displays all TCP/IP network summary
information available on a network and helps to modify the DHCP protocol and DNS settings.

Q69. What is ifconfig?

Ans. It is an acronym for Interface Configuration and is used on Linux, Mac, and UNIX operating
systems. ‘ifconfig’ configures and controls the TCP/IP network interface parameters from Command
Line Interface while allowing the user to check the IP addresses of these network interfaces.

Q70. What is the semantic gap?

Ans. Semantic gap is a difference between high-level programming sets in various computer
languages and the simple computing instructions used by microprocessors.

Q71. What is the difference between a Domain and a Workgroup?

Ans. This is one of the important networking interview questions that you must prepare for your
interview. The main difference between a Domain and a Workgroup is where do the computer
networks belong to. If it is a home network, then computers will be a part of a workgroup, and if it’s
a workplace network, then the computers will be a part of a domain.
Below are some of the major differences between a Domain and a Workgroup:

Domain Workgroup

The computers in a domain have a The computers in the workgroup have their
centralized database. own local database.

Computers can be on a different local All computers must be on the same local area
network. network.

One or more computers are servers for

All computers are peers and no computer has
providing access, security permission
control over another computer.
to all other computers in a network.

A domain is used for transferring and

It is used for sharing less secure data.
sharing sensitive and important data.

Domain has centralized authentication

Each computer has its own authentication
servers which set the rule of
rule for every user account.
authentication.

Each computer has a set of user accounts. If

If a user has an account in a domain
the user has an account on that computer then
then the user can log in to any
only the user will be able to access the
computer in a domain.
computer.

Changes made in one computer are

Computer settings need to change manually
automatically made to all other
for each computer.
computers in a network.

It is used by large public and business A workgroup is better suited for fewer
networks. computers.

Thousands of computers can be

Only 20 computers connected.
connected.

Q72. What Is NVT?

Ans. NVT stands for Network Virtual Terminal and is a representation of a primary terminal. This
virtual terminal helps you to start a telnet session.

Q73. What Is BGP?

Ans. BGP or Border Gateway Protocol is a protocol used to transfer data and information between
different host gateways or autonomous systems.

Q74. What is Round Trip Time?

Ans. Round Trip Time or RTT is the time taken to send a message from one end of a network to the
other and back.

Q75. What are 127.0.0.1 and localhost?

Ans. Localhost is the standard hostname given to the machine, and it is represented by the IP address
127.0.0.1. Therefore, we can say that 127.0.0.1 and localhost are the same thing.

Q76. Which are the most typical functional units of the client/server applications?

Ans. The most typical functional units of the client/server applications are –

 Presentation logic or user interface (e.g., ATMs)

 Business logic (e.g., Account balance inquiry)
 Data (e.g., Bank account records)

Q77. What are the Triggers?

Ans. Triggers are event-driven specialized procedures and are managed by database management
systems. It is capable of performing complex actions and uses procedural languages full throttle.

Q78. What is a Gateway?

Ans. A gateway is a hardware device that is connected to two or more networks. It may be a router,
firewall, server, or any other similar device, and is capable of regulating traffic in the network.

For more information, you can also explore: What is a Gateway in networking?

Q79. Is there a difference between a gateway and a router?

Ans. A gateway sends the data between two dissimilar networks, while a router sends the data
between two similar networks.
Q80. What is a Virtual Private Network (VPN)? What are the advantages
of using a VPN Connection?

Ans. A VPN or Virtual Private Network is an encrypted connection (secure tunnel) built on the
internet from a device to a network. It helps in the creation of a protected network between different
networks using the internet (public network), ensuring that sensitive data is safely transmitted. This
makes it difficult for third parties to gain unauthorized access, track your activities online, or steal
data. By using the VPN, a client can connect to the organization’s network remotely.

Some of the advantages of using VPN Connection are:

Remote Access

Protected File Sharing

Anonymity

Enhanced Security

Improved Performance

Anonymity

Network Scalability

Prevents Data Throttling

Q81. Explain the different types of VPN.

Ans. There are two types of VPNs:

Remote Access Virtual Private Network:

A Remote Access VPN securely connects a device (endpoints like laptops, tablets, or smartphones)
outside the corporate office. It allows a client to associate with a private network and access every
one of its resources and services remotely. The connection between the private network and the user
happens securely through the Internet. It is a low-cost solution and is helpful for both business and
home users.
  Site-to-Site or Router-to-Router Virtual Private Network:

This VPN is mostly used in large organizations with branches in different locations to connect the
network of one office to another in different locations. It has two sub-categories:

 Intranet VPN: Intranet VPN allows several offices of the same company to connect using
the Site-to-Site VPN type. It is commonly used for connecting remote offices in different
geographical locations using shared infrastructure (internet connectivity and servers) with
the same accessibility policies as a private WAN (wide area network).
 Extranet VPN: Extranet VPN allows companies to use Site-to-site VPN type to connect to
the office of another company. It uses shared infrastructure over an intranet, suppliers,
customers, partners, etc., and connects them using dedicated connections.

Q82. What is EGP? What are its advantages?

Ans. EGP stands for Exterior Gateway Protocol. It is used to exchange net-reachability information
between Internet gateways within the same or different autonomous systems. EGP is the protocol of
the routers. It is used to identify the set of networks that you will be able to reach within or via each
independent system.

Networking Interview Questions For Experienced Candidates

We are now moving on to the last category of networking interview questions. This section covers
interview questions for experienced candidates.

Q83. Explain 10Base-T.

Ans. 10Base-T specifies data transfer rate, i.e., 10Mbps. Here the usage of the term ‘Base’ defines
‘Baseband’ and not ‘Broadband’. T denotes the type of cable, which is a twisted pair.

Q84. Name the user support layers.

Ans. There are three types of user support layers –

 Session Layer
 Presentation Layer and
 Application Layer
Q85. What is Piggy Backing?

Ans. It is the process of gaining access to a restricted communications channel by using an already
established session by another user. This technique is known to improve the efficiency of the
bidirectional protocols.

Q86. What is an asynchronous transmission?

Ans. It is a serial mode of transmission. It is the process of data transmission, where every character
is a self-contained unit. Each character in asynchronous transmission has its start and stop bits, along
with an uneven interval between them.

Q87. What do you mean by a synchronous transmission?

Ans. Synchronous transmission refers to continuous data streaming in the form of signals,
accompanied by regular timing signals. These signals are generated by the external clocking
mechanism and ensure that senders and receivers are in synchrony.

Q88. What are the different types of transmission media?

Ans. Transmission media has two broad types –

 Guided media (wired)

 Unguided media (wireless)

Q89. What is Process Sigma?

Ans. Process Sigma measures the frequency of a task that is performed without any error. It is
expressed as a number of standard deviations on a normal distribution.

Q90. What is FMEA?

Ans. Failure Mode Effect and Analysis or FMEA is a qualitative and systematic tool to identify
potential failure modes in a system, the reasons, and their effects.

Q91. What is the backbone network?

Ans. It refers to a centralized infrastructure for distributing different routes and data to various
networks. Backbone networks connect LANs and WANs and also handles the management of
bandwidth and multiple channels.
Q92. What is OSPF?

Ans. OSPF is an abbreviation for Open Shortest Path First. It is a routing protocol that uses a link-
state routing (LSR) algorithm to find out the best possible path for data exchange.

Q93. What is the range of addresses in the classes of internet addresses?

Ans. Following are the five different ranges of addresses in the classes of the internet:

 Class A: 0.0.0.0 – 127.255.255.255

 Class B: 128.0.0.0 – 191.255.255.255
 Class C: 192.0.0.0 – 223.255.255.255
 Class D: 224.0.0.0 – 239.255.255.255
 Class E: 240.0.0.0 – 247.255.255.255

Q94. What are Datalink Protocols?

Ans. Datalink protocols are defined as the sets of requirements used to implement the data link layer.
There are the following categories of Data Link protocols:

 Synchronous Protocols
 Asynchronous Protocols
 Bit Oriented protocols
 Character Oriented Protocols

Q95. What are the functions of a Network Layer?

Ans. The Network Layer or OSI Layer 3 provides services for exchanging individual sections of data
over the network between identified end devices. To perform this end-to-end transport Layer 3 uses
four basic processes:

 Addressing
 Encapsulation
 Routing
 Decapsulation

Q96. Name the access method used in the 1000BaseTX network.

Ans. CSMA/CD access method is used in the 1000BaseTX network.

Q97. Mention the different types of links used to build a computer network.

Ans. Following are the different types of links used to build a computer network:

 Cables
 Wireless Links
 Last-Mile Links
 Leased Lines

Q98. Mention the types of wires used for data transmission in UTP cable.

Ans. There are four types of wires used for data transmission in UTP cable, which is wire 1, 2, 3, and
6. Where wires 1 and 2 are used to transmit the data while wires 3 and 6 are used to receive the data.

Q99. Can we use RG59 and RG6 cables in a computer network?

Ans. RG59 and RG6 cables are not used in the computer network. These cables are made for the
cable TV network.

Q100. What is 10Base2?

Ans. 10Base2 is defined as part of the IEEE 802.3a standard, specifies data transmission speeds of
10Mbps and a total segment length of 185 meters using RG-58 coaxial cable. The 10Base2 standard
specifies a physical bus topology and uses BNC connectors with 50-ohm terminators at each end of
the cable. One of the physical ends of each segment must be grounded.

Q101. Name the cable used in the 10BaseFL network.

Ans. Fibre optical cable is the cable used in the 10BaseFL network.

Q102. Why is IP protocol deliberated as a connectionless protocol?

Ans. An IP protocol is deliberated as a connectionless protocol because it does not build up a

connection before sending data to the endpoint.

Q103. How many network segments can be populated in 10Base2?

Ans. 10Base2 networks allow a maximum of five segments with only three of those segments
populated. Each of the three populated segments can have a maximum of 30 nodes attached.

Q104. What is the point-to-point protocol?

Ans. A communications protocol is used to connect computers to remote networking services,
including Internet service providers.

Q105. What is NIC?

Ans. The NIC stands for the network interface controller. NIC is a device or module that controls and
configures the interface of a processor system to a network or other interconnection. There are many
different types of interfaces in electronic systems. NICs generally configure, maintain the current
state, handle faults, and provide algorithm implementation to successfully transfer data to and from
the interface.

You can also explore: What is Network Interface Card And Its Type

Q106. Mention any five applications that use TCP port.

Ans. Following are the five application that uses TCP port:

 FTP
 POP
 SSH
 SMTP
 Telnet

Q107. What is the 5-4-3 rule? In which architectures do we use the 5-4-3 rule?

Ans. In the 5-4-3 rule, there is a maximum of five segments in a network that are connected with four
repeaters. It is used in 10Base2 and 10Base5 Ethernet architectures. In this rule, only three segments
can be populated with nodes.

Q108. Name the measurement unit used to measure the transmission speed of
Ethernet?

Ans. Mbps is the measurement unit used to measure the transmission speed of Ethernet.

Q109. Name the switching method used to explore the destination Mac address.

Ans. The switching method that is used to explore the destination Mac address is Cut Through.

Q110. Mention the use of DDR on Cisco routers.

Ans. DDR stands for dial-on-demand routing used to generate and close a circuit-switched session. It
provides on-demand routing to the low volume and periodic traffic.

Q111. Mention the number of access lists required per interface.

Ans. One access list can be used per interface and per protocol.

Q112. What is the possible way to convert the user data from DTE to the WAN
Service Form?

Ans. To convert the user data from DTE to WAN Service Form, we can use the Modem, CSU/DSU,
and TA/NT1.

Q113. Name the types of WAN services obtained by Cisco routers.

Ans. WAN services obtained by Cisco routers are switched services where protocols are used to
connect end to end devices and Interface front end.

Q114. Name the various technologies involved in building WAN links?

Ans. Various technologies involved in building WAN links are:

 Digital connections – using digital-grade telephone lines

 Analog connections – using conventional telephone lines
 Switched connections – using different sets of links between the sender and receiver to move
data.

Q115. Explain the Sliding Window in Agile?

Ans. In the Sliding Window, the sender and receiver must deal with the manageable sequence
numbers. This abstract concept defines the range of sequence numbers with the concern of sender
and receiver.

Q116. What standard color sequences are used for a straight-through cable?

Ans. Standard colour sequences used for a straight-through cable are Orange/white, orange,
green/white, green, blue/white, blue, brown/white, brown.

Q117. What is a Network Interface Card?

Ans. Network Interface Card is a connecting device used to interlink computers with the network.
These cards are of two types: Internal network cards and External network cards.

Q118. What is SMTP?

Ans. Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is a protocol used to move all internal mail across
different networks. It works with Mail Transfer Agent (MTA) and provides the mail transmission on
the TCP/IP protocol stack.

Q119. Explain the role of the IEEE in computer networking?

Ans. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is an organization comprised of

engineers that manage standards for electrical and electronic devices. It involves networking devices,
cablings, network interfaces, and connectors.

Q120. What are the advantages of PAN?

Ans. PAN has a number of advantages including:

1. PAN does not require any extra space as it does not need any cables and wires.
2. It is used in TV and AC rooms, offices, conferences and meetings.
3. It provides multiple device connectivity at the same time.
4. It has an affordable cost.

Q121. What are the disadvantages of PAN?

Ans. PAN has the following disadvantages:

1. It can only be operated in lesser range areas.
2. It is used for personal areas.
3. It has a slow rate of transfer.
4. It also causes interference with radio signals.

Q122. Which are the examples of WPAN?

Ans. Wireless keyboards, smartphones, TV remotes, wireless printers, BlueTooth, firewire, ZigBee,
Wireless USB, Wibree are some of the examples of WPAN.

Q123. Name the layers of the TCP IP protocol suite that are involved in a link-layer
switch.

Ans. In TCP IP protocol, a link-layer switch is involved with the data-link layer and physical layer.
Q124. What is MAU?

Ans. Multistation Access Unit(MAU) is a device used to connect multiple network stations in star
topology in the form of a ring which is also known as a token ring network.

Q125. Mention the maximum number of networks and hosts used in classes A, B,
and C networks.

Ans. The maximum number of networks and hosts used in class A, B, and C networks are:

 Class A: 126 networks, 16,777,214 hosts.

 Class B: 16,384 networks, 65,534 hosts.
 Class C: 2,097,152 networks, 254 hosts.

Q126. Differentiate between a ‘bit rate’ and ‘baud rate’.

Ans. A bit rate is the number of bits transmitted during one second, whereas, baud rate refers to the
number of signal units per second that are required to represent those bits.

Baud rate = bit rate / N, where N is the no. of bits represented by each signal shift.

Q127. What is Project 802?

Ans. It is a project started by IEEE to set standards to enable intercommunication between equipment
from a variety of manufacturers.

Q128. What is ICMP?

Ans. ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) is a network layer protocol of the TCP/IP suite used
by hosts and gateways to send notification of datagram problems back to the sender.

Q129. What are the differences between TCP and UDP?

Ans. This is one of the important networking interview questions. The differences between TCP and
UDP are:

For more information, you can also explore: TCP vs UDP: What’s the Difference?

TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) UDP (User Datagram Protocol)

Connection-oriented protocol. Datagram-oriented protocol. It is a

 connectionless protocol.

TCP is more reliable as it guarantees the UDP is less reliable as the delivery of data
delivery of data to the destination router. to the destination cannot be guaranteed

TCP offers extensive error-checking UDP provides only the basic error-
mechanisms. checking mechanism.

Slower transmission. Faster transmission.

Heavyweight. Lightweight.

Packets order can be preserved or can be Packets order is not fixed as all packets
rearranged. are independent of each other.

Does not support Broadcasting. Supports Broadcasting

The header size is 20 bytes. The header size is 8 bytes.

TCP is used by HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, and UDP is used by protocols like DNS, RIP,
SMTP. SNMP, RTP, TFTP, and NIP.

Q130. Explain the DHCP Protocol.

Ans. DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. It is a standardized network protocol
used on Internet Protocol (IP) networks. It is used to auto-configure devices on IP networks enabling
them to use the TCP and UDP-based protocols. The DHCP servers automatically assign IP addresses
to the network devices which reduces the errors caused by the manual allocation of IP addresses.
DHCP is commonly used in networks ranging in size from small home networks to campus
networks.

We hope these networking interview questions will help you to crack your next hardware and
networking interview.

All the best!